Singapore Airlines Joins Air France, Etihad, Qatar and More Flights in Retiring the A380 from U.S. Airports as the Era of the World’s Largest Passenger Jet Nears Its Final Descent

When Singapore Airlines made aviation history in October 2007 by operating the world’s first commercial Airbus A380 flight to Sydney, it launched not only a new aircraft but a new vision for international travel. With luxurious suites, spacious cabins, and a quiet, smooth ride, the A380 symbolized a golden future for long-haul flying. Over the next decade, Singapore Airlines brought the superjumbo to U.S. travelers through routes connecting via Tokyo, Frankfurt, and Hong Kong. But by 2023, even the airline that pioneered A380 passenger service had pulled it from U.S. operations—joining a growing list of carriers saying goodbye to the double-decker on American soil.

In total, six international airlines have withdrawn the A380 from the United States or plan to do so by mid-2025. Alongside Singapore Airlines, the list includes Air France, China Southern, Etihad Airways, HiFly (which operated the aircraft briefly on behalf of Norwegian), and Qatar Airways. These carriers once offered high-capacity A380 service between the U.S. and major cities across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Now, all of them have either transitioned to smaller aircraft or exited the U.S. A380 market entirely.

Air France was once one of the largest A380 operators to North America, serving cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Miami before retiring the aircraft in 2020. China Southern flew the A380 between Guangzhou and Los Angeles until 2020, briefly bringing it back in 2021 and 2022 before ending service altogether. Etihad resumed A380 flights to New York in 2024, but that revival will be short-lived: the airline plans to conclude A380 operations to the U.S. by June 23, 2025, shifting the aircraft to serve Toronto instead.

Other examples were more temporary. HiFly, a wet-lease operator based in Portugal, briefly flew an A380 for Norwegian in 2018 and 2019 during a period when Norwegian’s Dreamliner fleet was grounded. The aircraft made rare appearances on routes between London and New York, and even completed a one-off flight from JFK to Oslo. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways made headlines in 2016 with a single celebratory A380 flight from Doha to Atlanta, showcasing its fleet during a contentious time in U.S.–Gulf aviation relations.

During its peak, the A380 was a regular sight at major U.S. airports, particularly between 2016 and 2019. On certain summer days, up to nine daily A380 departures were scheduled from American cities—reflecting strong demand and a preference for large aircraft during peak travel periods. Data shows that this level of activity occurred more than 350 times in just three years.

On August 13, 2019, for instance, Air France operated five A380 flights from the U.S.—from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York JFK, and Atlanta—while Singapore Airlines, Etihad, and China Southern all had scheduled A380 services departing as well. It was a defining moment for the aircraft’s presence in the U.S. market.

Altogether, these six A380 operators contributed approximately 25.7 million seats on U.S. routes between 2009 and 2025. Air France alone accounted for over 11 million of those seats. Singapore Airlines followed closely behind with around 9.2 million, while China Southern provided nearly 3 million. The remainder came from Etihad, HiFly, and Qatar.

But times have changed. Airlines are turning to more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, which offer similar range capabilities with lower operational costs. These new jets have made the four-engine A380 increasingly impractical for many airlines—particularly on routes where passenger loads fluctuate or competition has intensified.

As the curtain closes on A380 operations from these six international carriers, the superjumbo’s legacy in the U.S. remains profound. It introduced a new level of luxury and capacity never before seen in commercial aviation. And while Emirates continues to operate A380s to several U.S. destinations, the aircraft’s widespread use among other airlines is now a memory.

For Singapore Airlines, the journey that began with global fanfare in 2007 has come full circle. Its decision to retire the A380 from U.S. service reflects both industry trends and strategic realignments—but it also signals the end of an era. As more airlines follow suit, the A380’s reign over American skies is quietly coming to a close, remembered fondly by those lucky enough to fly on the world’s biggest passenger plane.

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